Chuck Schumer Goes On Furious Tirade At Vladimir Putin For Allowing Edward Snowden To Land In Russia

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted Russian President
Vladimir Putin Sunday, saying he stuck "a finger in the eye of
the United States" by allowing NSA leaker Edward Snowden to land
in Moscow.

"What’s infuriating here is Prime Minister Putin of Russia aiding
and abetting Snowden’s escape. The bottom line is very simple,"
Schumer said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"Allies are supposed to treat each other in decent ways,
and Putin always seems almost eager to put a finger in the
eye of the United States, whether it is Syria, Iran, and now, of
course, with Snowden. That’s not how allies should treat one
another, and I think it will have serious consequences for the
United States-Russia relationship."

Schumer's comments came after reports that Snowden — who has
claimed responsibility for leaking a trove of details about the
National Security Agency's surveillance programs — left Hong Kong and flew to Russia.

Schumer said that because of Russia's "state-controlled" nature,
he believed it "likely" that Putin knew about Snowden's plans and
personally approved the flight.